System and method for providing links to viewers to access additional content for viewing

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/164,536, filed May 25, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,432,053, issued Aug. 30, 2022, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/489,397, filed Sep. 17, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,357,277 issued May 31, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

A growing number of customers choose to view video content streamed to various consumer electronic devices, such as tablets and smartphones, because they like more control over when, where, and how video content is experienced. Technology has also facilitated the use of multiple screens or windows (i.e., “multi-screening”) to simultaneously consume different content. Consistent with these trends, video customers have also embraced interactive television, which offers a more immersive and enjoyable experience. Interactive television adds data services to traditional television technology. For example, interactive television may allow customers to obtain additional information related to the video content being watched. Conventional usage of interactive television provides the same message to all customers. In other words, all customers receive the same content stream, and all customers access the same additional content. While this may be sufficient in some instances, the same information is not relevant or interesting to every customer. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for insertion of multiple links or URLs in a content stream and selection of one of the links based on a set of criteria, which may be implemented as business rules. The links may be associated with a particular channel, program, portion of a program, or time stamp association with a video content item based on a program level or channel level per device/customer.

Embodiments of a URL personalization system allow a television service provider to associate additional content with the programming to provide an immersive, interactive television viewing experience. The URL personalization system includes a video content server in communication with a link manager. The video content server streams video content items to customer endpoint devices. The link manager may be in communication with one or more data systems, such as, but not limited to, a URL data system, a rule data system, a video content item data system, and business data systems. A user agent running on the endpoint device receives the content stream and renders the video content item on a display associated with the endpoint device.

In operation, the link manager associates one or more additional content URLs pointing to additional content servers storing additional content with the video content items. The additional content URLs may be stored in the URL data system. Selected additional content URLs may be aggregated into a link object that is associated with a video content item. Criteria, such as target demographic features (e.g., age, gender, residence address), campaign features (e.g., run dates or locations), or restrictions (e.g., adults only) may be associated with individual additional content URLs or with aggregations of additional content URLs (i.e., link objects) and used to create business rules for making personalized selections of additional content URLs for customers.

In various embodiments, the link manager may insert the link object into a content stream being sent by the television service provider to one or more endpoint devices. The link object associates an aggregation of links with an aspect of the content stream. The additional content URLs allow customers to access additional content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) associated with the video content item and displays it in various ways according to the capability of the endpoint devices being used. The additional content URLs may also be used for targeted advertising based on the session profile, which may include, without limitation, information about the customer, the capabilities of the endpoint device, and options configured in the user agent of the endpoint device.

For example, a video content item may have multiple URLs associated with one time stamp. When the time stamp is reached, the customer is redirected to the additional content at the personalized URL selected from the aggregated URLs by applying a set of business rules, such as rules based on the endpoint device characteristics. If the customer is watching the program on a tablet, the customer may be redirected to a first URL. If the customer is not interacting with the tablet (e.g., the customer is not looking at the tablet), the customer may be redirected to a second URL. If the customer is watching the program on a television tuned to a channel using a set-top box, the customer may be redirected to a third URL. Other rules covering additional scenarios may be included. Dynamically redirecting the customer to a URL that takes into account the information specific to the customer's situation allows a television service provider or content provider to offer an immersive viewing experience that is valuable to the customer and the owner of the additional content.

The endpoint device may be utilized to access the user agent that provides a user interface for viewing video content items and additional content. The user agent allows the customer to request a video content item from the television service provider, receive the video content item, request additional content associated with the video content item using the link object, retrieve additional content using the personalized URL selected based on the characteristics of the viewing session (e.g., date, time of day, the profile of the customer logged into the user agent, the capabilities of the endpoint device), and display the additional content. The resulting interactive viewing experience may include a blend of requested video content items with additional content and services from the television service provider or third party content owners or providers.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that the following detailed description is explanatory only and is not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

A uniform resource locator (URL) personalization system and accompanying method are described herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures. The system allows a television service provider to dynamically associate multiple URLs with the content stream being viewed by the customer. The associated URLs point to additional content that may be of interest to different customer demographics. A generic URL linking to the associated URLs may be inserted into the video content item. The system may personalize the generic URL by replacing or modifying the generic URL with a personalized URL based on information specific to the customer viewing the content before streaming the content or when additional content is requested. The customer is redirected to the personalized URL to obtain the additional content determined to be most appropriate for the individual customer. This allows the television service provider to send a single content stream to all customers or large groups of customers while providing individual customers with an enhanced interactive television viewing experience.

is a simplified block diagram of one embodiment of a uniform resource locator (URL) personalization system. The URL personalization systemallows a television service provider to associate additional content with the programming to provide an immersive, interactive television viewing experience. Examples of television service providers include providers of programming, such as, but not limited to, multiple system operators, cable system operators, direct-to-home (DTH) or direct broadcast satellite (DBS) operators (i.e., satellite system operators), terrestrial (i.e., over-the-air) broadcast system operators (e.g., networks and stations), internet protocol television (IPTV) system operators, and Internet television system operators, and internet service providers.

The URL personalization system includes a video content serverin communication with a link manager. The video content serverstreams video content items to customer endpoint devices. The link managermay be in communication with one or more data systems, such as, but not limited to, a URL data system, a rule data system, a video content item data system, and business data systems. A user agentrunning on the endpoint devicereceives the content stream and renders the video content item on a display associated with the endpoint device.

In operation, the link managerassociates one or more additional content URLs pointing to additional content serversstoring additional content with the video content items. The additional content URLs may be stored in the URL data system. Selected additional content URLs may be aggregated into a link object that is associated with a video content item. As used herein, video content items broadly encompass any video content or audiovisual content including, but not limited to, channels carrying linear or non-linear programming, linear program blocks, individual programs, and non-linear (i.e., on-demand) programs.

The additional content URLs associated with a video content item may be selected by the television service provider or by third parties, such as content providers (i.e., television networks and stations) and advertisers. The television service provider may offer third parties the option to request and/or purchase an association between an additional content URL and a video content item. For example, a television network might choose to associate the URL for the home page of the television network with all channels and programs offered by the television network. The television network might also choose to associate the URL for a web page dedicated to a program and maintained by the television network with the program and the URL for a trailer to a new program in which viewers may be interested. Advertisers may choose to associate URLs for product videos (e.g., commercials) or product web pages with particular channels or programs.

The television service provider may provide URLs to other video content items offered by the television service provider. In various embodiments, a recommendation systemin communication with business data systemsmay automatically select recommended video content items based on information known about the customer, such as past viewing history and customer provided interests and hobbies.

Criteria, such as target demographic features (e.g., age, gender, residence address), campaign features (e.g., run dates or locations), or restrictions (e.g., adults only) may be associated with individual additional content URLs or with aggregations of additional content URLs (i.e., link objects). The criteria may be used to hand craft or automatically generate business rules for making personalized selections of additional content URLs for customers. In a server-side implementation of the URL personalization system, the business rules may be stored in the rule data system. In a client-side implementation of the URL personalization system, the business rules may be stored in the user agent(e.g., a television service provider guide or viewer application). Alternatively, the business rules or the criteria may be inserted into the metadata associated with the video content item.

Various criteria may be used to associate different additional content URLs with video content items on a per customer or per endpoint device basis. Based on feedback received from the endpoint device, the additional content URLs may be dynamically updated according to the business rules applied to select which of the additional content URLs to be used. In this manner, a customer may be provided with a link to an advertisement, but the advertisement that is provided will be different when the customer accesses the advertisement at 10:00 AM using a tablet than when that customer accesses the advertisement at 9:00 PM from a set-top box and television.

In various embodiments, the link managermay dynamically insert a link object into a content stream being sent by the television service provider to one or more endpoint devicesaddressable over an internet protocol network. Networks suitable for use with the URL personalization systemmay include, but are not limited to, one or more of a television service provider content delivery network, the Internet, a wide area network, and a local area network. Examples of suitable endpoint devicesinclude, but are not limited to, digital set-top boxes, personal computers, tablet computing devices, smart phones, smart televisions, digital media players, and game consoles.

The link object associates an aggregation of links with an aspect of the content stream, including, without limitation, a particular video content item (i.e., a program) or the channel carrying the program. The link object may be persistent for the duration of the content stream or limited to portions of the content stream (e.g., specific scenes within the content stream). The aggregated URLs are a collection of URLs linking to additional content located on a content server. The additional content URLs allow customers to access additional content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) associated with the video content item and may display the additional content in various ways according to the capabilities of the endpoint devices being used. The additional content URLs may also be used for targeted advertising based on the session profile, which may include, without limitation, information about the customer, the capabilities of the endpoint device, and options configured in the user agent of the endpoint device.

For example, a video content item may have multiple URLs associated with one time stamp. When the time stamp is reached, the customer is redirected to the additional content at the personalized URL selected from the aggregated URLs by applying a set of business rules, such as rules based on the endpoint device characteristics. If the customer is watching the program on a tablet, the customer may be redirected to a first URL. If the customer is not interacting with the tablet (e.g., the customer is not looking at the tablet), the customer may be redirected to a second URL. If the customer is watching the program on a television tuned to a channel using a set-top box, the customer may be redirected to a third URL. Other rules covering additional scenarios may be included. Dynamically redirecting the customer to a URL that takes into account the information specific to the customer's situation allows a television service provider or content provider to offer an immersive viewing experience that is valuable to the customer and the owner of the additional content.

Video content items may be live or pre-recorded programs streamed as linear programming (e.g., the program lineup on a particular channel). Video content items also encompass non-linear programming from a video on-demand system or a cloud-based digital video recorder. It is worth noting that time-shifting the viewing of a video content item originally streamed by the television service provider may not prevent operation of the URL personalization system. For example, the link object may be stored with a video content item streamed by the television service provider and recorded by a customer using a local digital video recorder or other time-shifting device. When the locally stored copy is played back (i.e., streamed from the local digital video recorder to the endpoint device), the link object associated with the video content item may be processed and the aggregated URLs may be personalized.

The endpoint devicemay be utilized to access the user agentthat provides a user interface for viewing video content items and additional content. The user agentallows the customerto request a video content item from the television service provider, receive the video content item, request additional content associated with the video content item using the link object, retrieve additional content using the personalized URL selected based on the characteristics of the viewing session (e.g., date, time of day, the profile of the customer logged into the user agent, the capabilities of the endpoint device), and display the additional content. The resulting interactive viewing experience may include a blend of requested video content items with additional content and services from the television service provider or third party content owners or providers. According to embodiments, the user agentor other application running on the endpoint devicemay communicate customer profile data and display device data to the link manager.

A reporting modulemay collect information, such as, but not limited to, the customer identifier used when accessing the link object, the links available to the customer, and the link that is accessed. The information collected by the reporting modulemay be reported to the television service provider or the content owner. Such information allows the television service provider or the content source to ascertain the utilization of the available links. The link managermay analyze the reported information and update the available aggregated URLs based on the analysis results. Analysis of the reported information and updates to the available aggregated URLs may occur in real time.

The various components of the URL personalization system, including, without limitation, the video content server, the link manager, the recommendation system, the reporting module, and the various data systems, may be implemented using one or more computing devices (e.g., application servers or data servers) executing software providing the functionality described herein.

is a high level flowchart of the method for personalizing URLs associated with a content stream. The methodbegins with a URL definition operationwhere one or more URLs pointing to additional content that may be of general interest to all customers or of particular interest to certain customers are obtained. Examples of the types of additional content that may be referenced by a URL include, without limitation, supplemental information related to a program, advertising, and emergency alerts. The additional content may be provided by the content provider, an advertiser, or other entity. Additional content may be in the form of, but not limited to, web pages or content streams.

A rule building operationgenerates a business rule set that may be used to select, update, edit, or replace one or more of the aggregated URLs based on a session profile that may include various information about the customer, the endpoint device, the user agent configuration, and viewing characteristics. The business rule set incorporates one or more evaluation criteria that determine which URL or URLs are applicable to a particular viewing situation. Stated differently, each URL may have one or more associated evaluation criteria that determine whether URL is applicable in a particular viewing situation. While described as business rules, it should be appreciated that a decision tree or other evaluation mechanism may be used to personalize the URLs from the aggregated URLs to the customer. Embodiments may use generalized business rule sets that are broadly applicable to a number of different URL sets, customized business rule sets specifically applicable only to particular URL sets, or a combination thereof.

In various embodiments, a default URL may be associated with each channel or video content item and used in situations such as when no other URLs are associated with a video content item, none of the other associated URLs apply, or no personalization rules are supplied. For example, the default URL may redirect customers to the home page of the website for the television service provider streaming the video content item to the customer, the television network that created the video content item, or the television channel including the video content item in its programming. Embodiments may aggregate the default URL into the URL set or use as the default URL the generic link. Alternatively, embodiments may use a default rule to replace a generic link with the default URL.

An information collection operationcollects various information, which may include, without limitation, information about the capabilities of the endpoint device being used to view the video content item, the customer viewing the video content item, and the options configured in the user agent running on the endpoint device. For example, the user agent may communicate customer profile data and endpoint device data to the link manager when the customer changes requests a video content item. Basic information such as the endpoint device IP address, the customer identifier, date, and time may be transmitted by the user agent. In some embodiments, the basic information may be used to obtain further information. For example, business data systems maintained by the television service provider may store customer profiles containing information voluntarily provided by customers or collected in the ordinary course of business, such as, without limitation, billing data (e.g., residence address), demographic data (e.g., age and gender), preferences and interests (e.g., hobbies, preferred program genres, program ratings, etc.), historical activity information (e.g., on-demand content viewed/purchased), which may be retrieved using the customer identifier. Some information such as the endpoint device IP address may be dynamically assigned and may be used to identify the current general location (e.g., a region or city) of the customer. Other information, such as endpoint device capabilities and user agent configuration, is not typically stored by television service provider business data systems.

A URL personalization operationapplies evaluation criteria to the information in the session profile to select personalized URLs to associate with the video content item. The evaluation criteria may be implemented in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, business rules, comparisons, or decision trees. When the aggregated URLs are carried by the link object, the URL personalization operationmay select one of the URLs from the aggregated URLs as the personalized URL based on the results of the business rule application. When the link object is a generic URL that points to a location where the associated aggregated URLs are stored, the URL personalization operationmay replace the generic URL with one of the aggregated URLs based on the results of the business rule application. The URL personalization operationmay also personalize URLs by modifying, adding, or deleting URLs associated with the link object. Modification may involve changes such as, but not limited to, rewriting or adding parameters to a generic URL or some or all of the aggregated URLs.

The evaluation criteria may be based on information including, but not limited to, at least one of a customer identifier associated with the customer viewing the video content item, a customer profile associated with the customer identifier, a video content item profile associated with the video content item being viewed, additional content profiles for the additional content associated with the video content item being viewed, current session data associated with viewing the video content item, an endpoint device profile associated with the endpoint device used to view the video content item, options configured in the user agent used to view the video content item, and interaction indicators.

Examples of customer profile data include, without limitation, addresses, age, gender, interests, hobbies, preferences, languages, billing history, and viewing history associated with the customer.

Examples of video content item profile data include, without limitation, a genre, live/pre-recorded status, and linear/non-linear (i.e., on-demand) status associated with the video content item being viewed by the customer.

Examples of additional content profile data include, without limitation, a content type, priority, weights, and restrictions on and/or eligibilities for time, date, location, age, parental controls, languages, and other characteristics. The restriction data may be used to define conditions such as when, where, or to whom the additional content (i.e., the associated URL) is or is not available, a lifespan for the additional content, and the like.

Examples of current session data include, without limitation, a location where the video content item is being viewed, a time of day when the video content item is being viewed, and a date when the video content item is being viewed.

Examples of endpoint device profile data include, without limitation, a device identifier, internet protocol (IP) address, media access control (MAC) address, and display capabilities of the endpoint device used to view the video content item and access the additional content.

Examples of user agent option data include, without limitation, closed captioning settings, secondary audio programming settings; and parental controls associated with customer identifier.

Examples of interaction indicators include, without limitation, detection of eyes looking at the endpoint device and inputs using the endpoint device.

The following scenarios are representative of URL personalization that may be implemented through the application of business rules as part of the URL personalization operation. These scenarios are not intended to limit the diverse range of URL personalization available in any way.

For example, a business rule may be based on the secondary audio program (SAP) setting. Anytime SAP is turned on, the system attempts to utilize the URL associated with the language indicated by the SAP setting.

Another business rule may personalize URLs based on one or more of the characteristics of the session profile. For example, the parental control and the secondary audio program (SAP) settings may be evaluated together allowing URLs to be personalized based on both the age and language of the customer.

The URLs may be prioritized to allow selection of the most appropriate URL when multiple criteria are satisfied. For example, one URL might redirect customers in a particular viewing location to an advertisement for a local restaurant and another URL might redirect customers viewing the content after midnight to an advertisement to a sleep aid. The sleep aid advertisement URL may be given greater priority such that if both the viewing location and viewing time criteria are satisfied, the sleep aid advertisement URL is selected as the most appropriate personalized URL. Similarly, the evaluation criteria may be used to score the characteristics and select the most appropriate URL based on the score. The contribution to the score for each characteristic may be weighted to emphasize certain characteristics.

The URLs may also be dynamically updated based on the output of the recommendation system or the reporting system. For example, when the customer accesses a car advertisement for a car featured in a video content item, the URLs may be updated to cater to the customer's apparent interest in the car to include additional content URLs for car reviews, auto loan financing options, and/or local car dealerships.

A URL aggregation operationmay group one or more URLs to be associated with a particular video content item into a URL set. The URL aggregation operationmay aggregate URLs provided by different entities. The set of URLs may include at least one URL of general applicability, such as the home page of the website for the television service provider or television channel delivering the video content item. The URL set may also include one or more URLs of targeted applicability, for example, URLs pointing to additional content related to a particular video content item or targeted at particular demographic groups.

The URL set may be stored in a link object or stored in a URL repository (e.g., a database) referenced using a generic URL that points to the URL set. In some instances, the link object may contain multiple URLs associated with the video content item from which a personalized URL may be selected or which may be modified to create personalized URLs. In some instances, the link object may hold a single generic URL that links to a location where the URLs associated with the video content item are stored.

A link object association operationassociates the link object with a video content item that may be streamed to customer endpoint devices. The link object may be associated with the video content item via a variety of mechanisms. For example, the link object may be inserted in the metadata or may be sent in a separate data stream synchronized with the video content item. In some embodiments, the link object may be a container holding the aggregated URLs. In other embodiments, the link object may be generic link pointing to the location where the additional content URLs are stored (e.g., the URL data system).

A video content item delivery operationdelivers the content stream carrying the video content item with the associated link object to customer endpoint devices.

A link interaction detection operationdetects when the link object is activated. As used herein, activation of a link object encompasses any activity that requires personalization of the aggregated URLs associated with the link object including, but not limited to, selecting, modifying, or filtering the aggregated URLs or user interface controls displayed and invoking the link object to request additional content. Activation of the link object may occur automatically (e.g., upon occurrence of a selected condition) or manually (e.g., interaction with user interface control).

An additional content retrieval operationobtains the additional content from the content server located at address specified by the additional content URL.

An interactive content display operationdisplays the video content item and the additional content on the customer's endpoint device(s). The personalized URLs may also be used to present the video content and additional content in a variety of display configurations based on factors such as the display capabilities of the endpoint device(s), the type of addition content, and the importance/priority/preference given to the additional content. Numerous presentation scenarios may be personalized through rules based on endpoint device capabilities and content characteristics. The following scenarios are representative of where the presentation of video content items and additional content may be enhanced through the use of the URL personalization system.

For example, sensory-competitive additional content, which includes audio and/or video content (e.g., a commercial, video game or movie trailer, audio or video commentary, or song), may, at least temporarily, replace the video content item or result in the video content item being paused or muted. Integral additional content, such as karaoke style lyrics for a music video, closed captioning, or subtitles may be presented as an overlay on the video content item.